Parents-to-be who are planning to have their babies at Ipswich Hospital are being offered greater choice about when they attend antenatal workshops thanks to a new partnership which launched earlier this month.

Community interest company Suffolk Babies has taken responsibility for running antenatal workshops for pregnant women and their partners.

The change is giving parents-to-be more choice of when to attend workshops, as Suffolk Babies are offering sessions in the evenings and at weekends and in various venues and locations across east Suffolk.

Specially trained staff have worked in collaboration with midwives from Ipswich Hospital to develop the content of the courses, which includes preparation for birth, signs of labour, when to come to hospital and preparing for parenthood. They also offer information on how partners can support the women during the each stage of labour and beyond.

Alison Littler, interim associate director of midwifery at the hospital, said: “We are really pleased to launch this partnership with Suffolk Babies, who will deliver the same high quality education to parents-to-be at no cost to the hospital or to the women and their partners.

“The partnership will ensure that all women receive the same high quality and consistent information that is endorsed by the midwifery team. It will also offer parents more flexibility, as they will now be able to attend sessions outside of usual office hours.”

Midwives from the hospital will continue to run specialist courses such as infant feeding and hynobirthing, which gives mums-to-be relaxation and breathing skills to cope with labour.

Jo Cresdee, chief executive officer of Suffolk Babies, said: “We are excited to be working in union with Ipswich Hospital to provide first class educational services and support all parents-to-be at such an important time in their lives.”